[Identification of meridian-acupoint diagrams and meridian diagrams].
In acu-moxibustion literature, there are two kinds of diagrams, meridian-acupoint diagrams and meridian diagrams. Because they are very similar in outline, and people now have seldom seen the typical ancient meridian diagrams, meridian-acupoint diagrams have been being incorrectly considered to be the meridian diagrams for a long time. It results in confusion in acu-moxibustion academia. The present paper stresses its importance in academic research and introduces some methods for identifying them correctly. The key points for identification of meridian-acupoint diagrams and meridian diagrams are: the legend of diagrams and the drawing style of the ancient charts. In addition, the author makes a detailed explanation about some acu-moxibustion charts which are easily confused. In order to distinguish meridian-acupoint diagrams and meridian diagrams correctly, he or she shoulnd understand the diagrams' intrinsic information as much as possible and make a comprehensive analysis about them.
Shen
Wei-hong
WH
Institute of Acu-moxibustion, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China.
D026881:Acupuncture / Q000193:education / Q000592:standards; D015669:Acupuncture Points; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000193:education / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D008488:Medical Illustration; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional / Q000592:standards; D016740:Meridians; D009071:Moxibustion